The gamble didn't work, but Conor McGregor left the T-Mobile Arena with his head held high in the early hours of Saturday morning after being stopped by Floyd Mayweather in the 10th round.
After his previous fight against Eddie Alvarez last November at UFC 205, the Dubliner announced that he was to become a father for the first time. Conor Jr. was born in May, and family was again key to McGregor's night in Las Vegas.
As he strolled into the T-Mobile Arena ahead of the fight, partner Dee Devlin was by his side pushing a buggy with their son inside. Not often you see that from a fighter ahead of a big fight.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xy227C6sNQA
After the loss when Conor McGregor returned to the dressing rooms, he was welcomed back by his family and spent the evening with them.
The likes of LeBron James, Jennifer Lopez and other A-listers were in attendance at the fight, but instead of mingling with them after the defeat, McGregor showed where his priorities lie.
Postmatch, Mayweather hangs with Al Heymon and Demi Lovato. McGregor sits down with his family. pic.twitter.com/qG8ClgfGeQ
— Balls.ie (@ballsdotie) August 27, 2017
After the post-fight press conference, and with a glass of McGregor Whiskey in tow, he left the T-Mobile Arena with his arm around his mother Margaret.
McGregor's brash pre-fight persona that was seen on the World Tour, was the opposite of his demeanour in defeat. The family man from Dublin knows who those are who helped him get to where he is, and he surrounded himself with his own.
It's a side of Conor McGregor that is rarely seen, and one that could make him popular to a wider bunch of supporters if they saw it more.
Even though he lost his professional boxing debut, McGregor may have the final laugh.
